First Conference on Mercosur/Chile negotiations and Civil Society

European Commissioner for External Relations Chris Patten addressed on the 12 October 2000 the very first conference organized by the European Commission with representatives from European Union civil society organizations, the business community and the academic community to discuss the association negotiations between the European Union and Mercosur-Chile.

In his opening remarks Commissioner Patten underlined the strong commitment of the European Union towards Mercosur-Chile and the current association negotiations.He also stressed the importance that the Commission attaches to the role of civil society in this process announcing that this conference would be the first one in a series of consultations with civil society which would continue during the course of the Mercosur-Chile negotiations.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Trade: Policy: Countries and regions: Mercosur http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/regions/mercosur/

ESO: Key Source: Relations between Chile and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/relations-between-chile-and-the-european-union/

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